After the Memphis Grizzlies concluded the 2022 NBA draft, general manger and president of basketball operations Zach Kleiman met with reporters to discuss the four-man draft class that included first-round picks David Roddy and Jake LaRavia, plus hometown star Kennedy Chandler.

Questions rolled in about the first-round selections and Chandler, but no one was asking about the Grizzlies’ final draft choice. That’s when Kleiman, unprovoked, highlighted Vince Williams Jr.

“We haven’t talked about Vince Williams, who we got at 47,” Kleiman said before listing off reasons the Grizzlies were excited to bring in Williams.

Basketball flashiness is eluding Williams while he’s grinding his way to goals. That’s how he paved his way at Virginia Commonwealth before being drafted by the Grizzlies, and it’s a similar theme to how he’s become one of the team’s most impactful defenders.

The second-year Grizzlies wing has carved out a major role in the rotation with his defense, rebounding and shooting after spending most of last season with the G League's Memphis Hustle. He doesn’t blame people who are caught off guard by his ascension. He even admits that outside of taking charges, he didn’t play much defense in college. His quick rise has even taken those close around him by surprise.

“They probably didn’t think I could do it how I’m doing it right now at a high level every night,” Williams told The Commercial Appeal.

Losing Dillon Brooks created a need for a standout defensive wing. Memphis acquired Marcus Smart, but he was hurt and missed 17 games. Roddy, Ziaire Williams, John Konchar and LaRavia all got opportunities before Memphis gave Williams a shot.

Starting on Nov. 19 against the Boston Celtics, Williams took the opportunity and hasn’t looked back. He has guarded the likes of Luka Doncic, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Tyrese Haliburton and Trae Young while being a key force in the Grizzlies’ current turnaround.

Williams held Haliburton, Durant, Irving, Doncic, and Devin Booker all to fewer than five field goals when matched up against them. His defensive RAPTOR — a stat used to determine how much a player improves a defense per 100 possessions when he's on the floor — is 2.8. That ranks 13th in the NBA and fifth amongst wings.

Williams is also making 35.3% of his 3-point field goals. In the six games he started before Smart returned, he was the team's leading rebounder with seven per game.

“The proof is in the pudding,” Williams said. “Go out, play hard and we going to win a lot more games."

Vince Williams Jr. shows Desmond Bane his capabilities

Williams didn’t get many game reps as a rookie. Along with G League games, his best chances to make an impression came in play groups.

When Grizzlies players were recovering from injuries, they were often put in play groups with and against players who weren’t playing much. Members of the staff joined in to even out the playing numbers.

It was during those moments when Williams caught the eye of Desmond Bane, as they battled and trash talked one another.

“I didn’t know he would be this type of defender, but I knew he had that dog in him," Bane said. "He’s shown that in his time being here. He got his opportunity, and he’s running with it.”

NEW HOME: Derrick Rose found a home in Memphis, and he doesn't plan on ever leaving

Vince Williams Jr.'s crucial meeting with Taylor Jenkins

Taylor Jenkins met with Williams before the 2023-24 season. The messaging was clear: If he wanted to play, his defense had to be the reason.

When Memphis played the Celtics on Nov. 19, Williams was thrown in the fire against Jaylen Brown and Jrue Holiday but passed the test. He then guarded Durant well enough to receive praise from the future hall of famer, and then Doncic gave him credit in their matchup.

“It’s something we’ve been watching the last year-plus with him. Just trying to put him in tough defensive assignments,” Jenkins said. “ . . . The game plan execution, the physicality on the ball is something we’ve been striving for as a team.”

Trash talking opponents with Ja Morant

Off the floor, Williams is calm, relaxed and mild-mannered. That all changes when he puts on that Grizzlies uniform.

“No friends on the floor besides my teammates,” Williams said. “Whoever I’m guarding, they’re going to have a hard night.”

The mental game is a key aspect for great defenders, and Williams seems already to understand that. He models his defensive approach after Patrick Beverley, who has made a career of being a pest toward opponents.

Williams is on the right team for that type of mentality. When he talks to opponents, Bane and Jaren Jackson Jr. have been right there to back him up. Now that Morant is on the floor, he only adds to Williams' trash-talking support.

“I love it,” Morant said. “I told him I’m right behind him every step of the way I’m on the court with him.”

Memphis lost a trash-talking defensive-minded wing in the offseason. Little did many people know, a quality option was already stashed deep down the roster.

Maybe the Grizzlies didn’t even know, since Williams is still on a two-way deal that will need to be addressed before he reaches his maximum 50-game threshold.

One person who has known is Williams. The defense, rebounding and shooting that he’s displaying now, he felt like he could’ve done if given a similar opportunity last season.

“I been a dog,” Williams said. “Just doing the little stuff. I’m just being consistent at a high level.”

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: How Vince Williams rose from end of bench to Grizzlies' X-factor